BRITAIN DOES NOT INTEND TO LEAVE THE MIDDLE EAST

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 November 1950, Page 5

BRITAIN DOES NOT INTEND TO LEAVE THE MIDDLE EAST

Firm Stand By Foreign Secretary Bevin Welcomed By The Press

LONDON, Nov. 21 (T?pc. 10.25 pm).—National newspapers welcome what they call Mr. Bevin’s “firm, temperate and conciliatory” statement to the House of Commons on Kgypt and support his reasoning that there can clearly be no question of withdrawing troops from the canal zone while the present international tension persists.

The Foreign Secretary told the House of Commons that the AngloEgyptian Treaty, which Egypt seeks to renounce, contained no provision for a modification or revision, except by mutual consent. Answering King Farouk’s demand for the withdrawal of British troops from Egypt, Mr. Bevin said that Britain had no intention if leaving the Middle East de’enceless. ATTITUDE TOWARD SUDAN. Mr. Bevin said that Britain's attitude remained the same towards the Sudan, which King Farouk insisted should be united with Egypt under his crown. “The Sudanese must decide their own future," Mr. Bevin said. Mr. Bevin does not despair of being able to reconcile Britain’s position with Egypt when he discusses the problem with Saleh el Din Bey, the Egyptian Foreign Minister in London next week, he said in the House of Commons.

He said the defence of the Middle East was not a matter merely con. cerning Britain and Egypt. The principle of common peacetime defence measures had been accepted by all Western Powers. It was fully compatible with national independence and sovereignty. Other countries in the Middle East were co-operating In that way.

Britain had always wanted to settle outstanding differences with Egypt in a spirit of friendship and equality, and with full respect for Egypt’s independence and sovereignty. In discussions over many months, no difficulties in principle had arisen over Middle East defence in time of war. It Was defence in peacetime that had raised difficulties not yet resolved. The Press, welcoming Mr. Bevin’s statement, emphasised that there cannot be progress in relations between the two countries until the Egyptian Government takes a broader view of the problems on international security in the Middle East, as sfie should as a member of the United Nations.

As "The Times” points out: "If Egypt can be brought to see that there is nothing derogatory to her sovereignty in associating herself, as Turkey for example has already done, with the preparations for defence that Allied Treaty powers are now actively promoting, she may cease to regard the presence of friendly forces on her soil under strictly regulated conditions, settled by mutual consent, as an affront to her independence.”

All the newspapers dismiss Egypt’s claim to the Sudan as unreasonable. The liberal "News Chronicle” applauds Mr Bevin’s insistence that the Sudanese must decide their own future, and adds: "It would be criminal to hand the Sudanese over to Egypt to be dragged down to the same low levels as the unhappy people of that country.—(Special N.Z.U. Correspondent).